Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Inside My Sketchbooks

Nature is a common thread that connects many facets of my life. More than ever, I find myself wanting to sort-of melt into the landscape and just be part of the Prairie's wide-open spaces. I plan to spend more time communing with nature this year. This is one of the many promises I made to myself after my mom passed. I want to take time to breathe, to step into each moment with intent, to live fully. How do I accomplish all of these... well, I am not completely sure, yet. But I am figuring it out as I go. Isn't that what life's all about, learning along the way, making mistakes, and trying again?

I have always painted wildlife, as a way to feel that closeness to nature. Feeders just outside my windows put me almost at arms reach of the many birds that visit. I even started several sketchbooks, years ago, of my various garden flowers and roses. I sporadically pull these books out to add a few pages to each. I hope to make sketching outdoors a common occurrence this year. Practice makes perfect with any endeavor... Here's to a renewed beginning!

6 comments:

You have expressed so beautifully how I feel about nature. The coneflowers have me dreaming of summer. I plant more and more coneflowers and bulbs each year. When we built my playhouse, the site was chosen between 4 trees and more windows than necessary. I wanted to be in nature even when the weather wouldn't allow me. Nature has a healing effect on me and I hope it helps guide you, too. xoxo

The lst commenter expressed just how I feel. I feel completed and at peace when I'm close to nature and even when I get to observe my birds through the window.Sketching it is a form of meditation for me as well.I'm glad you're going to be doing more.